Ronda Rousey wants to fight Bethe Correia next. And she wants to stack the deck against herself as much as possible.
Rousey said on the Jay Mohr Sports radio show Thursday she’d like to fight Correia in Brazil, in Correia’s own hometown. Rousey and Correia have a rivalry stemming from Correia beating her friends Jessamyn Duke and Shayna Baszler and taunting Rousey afterward.
“That’s what I want to do,” Rousey told Mohr. “I want to go and fight her in Brazil and beat her in her hometown. That would be the best way I could really feel like I’ve vindicated my friends, to go to her hometown and beat her in her hometown and be total Rocky IV on it.”
Correia has been pretty relentless about calling out Rousey. UFC president Dana White said Correia flew all the way from Brazil and wanted to go into the Octagon at UFC 184 to challenge Rousey after Rousey’s 14-second win over Cat Zingano. White didn’t let that happen, but it didn’t stop Correia from telling media in the back that Rousey was “selfish” and not a good champion for the UFC.
“She just thinks about herself, about making movies, dressing well, showing up,” Correia said. “I’m not gonna be like this, I’m gonna be a real champ. I’m gonna do something for the people. I’m gonna be the people’s champ.”
Rousey (11-0) has been absolutely dominant in her MMA career and will be a huge favorite against Correia (9-0), who has not fought top competition in the UFC. Correia, 31, has won three straight in the organization with a knockout of Baszler, but it has been her words more than her actions that have made this feud with Rousey so far.
That’s fine with Rousey, who is a fan of hyping up a fight. She’s certainly no stranger to it herself. It seemed like she was getting started doing that Thursday with Mohr. Rousey said Correia has been “irritating” her.
“There is this young, up-and-coming Brazilian chick with an undefeated record that beat two of my friends and has been trying to rub it in my face,” Rousey said. “Pretty much trying to get in an argument with me, because when you’re in an argument with me, you’re suddenly more important. I guess this chick figured that out. Messing with mama bear is a very bad idea. She might be next on my radar.”
Correia has poked fun at Rousey and her friends’ Four Horsewoman moniker by putting up four fingers and then dropping one down each when she beat Duke and then Baszler.
“I’m going to beat this chick at some point and I’m going to put a finger down and you should be not surprised which finger is left standing for her,” Rousey said.
Rousey has her own plans of mocking Correia.
“[It’s] kind of hilarious that her name is Bethe,” Rousey said. “I’m gonna have a fun time with that name.”
Rousey said earlier Thursday on The Dan Patrick Show that she’s targeting a return by the end of the summer, perhaps August. Maybe Correia will be her next opponent. And it is beautiful that time of year in Brazil.